Persons attempting to reach the village of Littleton and/or the N62 exiting southward out of Thurles, Co. Tipperary; travelling via Mill Road towards Archerstown from Thurles town, are being warned to avoid the area. Council workers presently are attempting to remove a large tree blown over in recent hours by Storm Éowyn.
Large tree blocking roadway at junction with Littleton village and the N62 route on Mill Road, to the rear of Thurles Golf Club. Picture: G. Willoughby.
Traffic on this route are being asked to turn around and find an alternative route, as no signs are in place warning of this road closure.
Local telephone lines and ESB lines have been broken, brought down by the falling tree.
At least 15,000 Tipperary homes and business premises are without electric power this morning, with many reports of fallen trees and strewn branch debris, following the extreme winds courtesy of Storm Éowyn.
Here in Thurles town council workers will have a few extra jobs to undertake today, as our pictures hereunder now demonstrate.
Branches down at the ‘Swinging Gates’, on the junction of Emmet Street and Thomond Road, Thurles, at early light this morning. Picture: G. Willoughby
Large tree blown over on the N62 close to Thurles Golf Club entrance closing the west facing lane. Motorists warned to take care. Picture: G. Willoughby.
Newly planted trees in the vicinity of Lidl Supermarket, will need immediate attention. Picture: G. Willoughby.
Met Eireann has, this morning, downgraded the Red Level severe weather wind alert to Level Orange for all of Co. Tipperary; same valid from 7:00am today Friday January 24th until at least midday. For more information see www.Met.ie
Members of the public can contact Tipperary Co. Council Customer Service Desk on 0818 06 5000/6000 or a dedicated Severe Weather contact Number at 0818 06 5001 during Friday 24th January from 9.00am to 10.00pm and on Saturday 25th January from 9.00am to 1.00pm, after which calls will be transferred to the Council’s Out-of-hours contact number 0818 06 5003. Members of the public can also email customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie to report their concerns.
Members of the public are reminded to register (free) on MapAlerter, a public emergency notification system available on the Council’s Website, where they can receive additional useful information by text and e-mail.
The extremely strong winds are expected to cause fallen trees, power lines, damage to property, flying debris, and road blockages making driving conditions dangerous.
Council road crews will not be in a position to respond to call-outs from midnight tonight, until the end of the Red Warning at 11:00am on Friday. Members of the public using the roads during this period could potentially find themselves very isolated should they get into difficulty. The Fire Services will only be in a position to respond to emergency calls that are deemed to be life critical.
Note: Council Offices and services including libraries, swimming pools and civic amenity sites will be closed to the public on Friday January 24th. Civic Amenity sites will reopen again on Saturday 25th January.
Ireland’s Mid-West Region, which incorporates North Co. Tipperary, Co. Clare and Co. Limerick, welcome the arrival of spring with its annual Imbolc Celebration*, same to be held in Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare. These celebrations will involve a vibrant festival honouring Celtic traditions and Saint Brigid, and will be held on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, from 11:00am until 5.00pm.
*Meaning of “Imbolc Celebration”: The celebration of Imbolc originates from the Celts. Imbolc symbolizes the halfway point between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). The word “imbolc” translated means “in the belly of the Mother,” because the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in the belly of Mother Earth.
This Co. Clare family-friendly event, in Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, offers the public an opportunity to meet an array of native Irish animals and embrace the vibrant crafts, traditions, and customs that characterise the spring season.
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park’s Bean an Tís will guide the public through the traditional craft of butter making, during its annual Imbolc Celebration on February 2nd.
Visitors can witness authentic demonstrations of Saint Brigid’s Cross weaving and traditional butter making by skilled Bean an Tís(Translation from the Irish: Women of the house or housewives), while the Clare Vintage and Engine Tractor Club will showcase century-old agricultural machinery in action.
“Our Imbolc Celebration will bring visitors on a journey back to an older time in Ireland, to experience and learn more about Ireland’s pastoral traditions,” stated Marie Brennan, (Events Manager at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park).
“At Bunratty Folk Park, we pride ourselves on showcasing what life was like in Ireland at the turn of the last century and how traditional crafts were a prominent feature in communities across the island,” added Ms. Brennan. “Imbolc represents the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox and has been celebrated in this country since ancient times. We are keeping this tradition alive on February 2nd and are promising people of all ages a fun-filled, interactive and educational experience.”
Visitors will be able to learn how to make a Saint Brigid’s Cross, an iconic symbol that has graced Irish homes for centuries. Bunratty’s experienced Bean an Tís will guide the public through these traditional crafts, demonstrating the meticulous process of weaving straw or rushes into the distinctive Saint Brigid’s Cross shape. Butter-making demonstrations also will take place throughout the day.
The art of Willow Weaving will be on full display as Tom Delaney, of Ould Crafty, makes traditional style baskets and other items from locally sourced willow. Regularly featured on TV, Mr Delaney will also use willow to make bird feeders, plant supports, boats and willow houses.
A variety of native Irish animals from Peafowl and Kerry Bog Ponies, to Irish Red Deer and Bunratty’s resident Irish Wolfhounds, Rian and Mide, will be on display as part of this visitor attraction; all part of the ongoing work to increase awareness of native Irish breeds and how they have formed part of Ireland’s social and cultural history down through the centuries.
There will also be children’s entertainment from a host of characters located throughout the 26-acre Folk Park, including a rousing traditional music Seisiún and the resident Seanchaí Mickey Joe, latter who will recall tales of bygone days and traditional ways preserved over the centuries, at Corry’s Pub on the park’s Village Street. Meanwhile, Konor the Clown will be performing magic, juggling and music in the Corn Barn, where there will be a ‘ball pit’ and ‘giant games‘ for toddlers to enjoy. The Bunratty Express Train also will run throughout the folk park on that day.
The Clare Vintage and Engine Tractor Club will showcase an array of vintage agricultural machinery at work during Bunratty’s annual Imbolc Celebration on February 2nd.
As the Folk Park farm springs into life for the new season, the Clare Vintage and Engine Tractor Club will showcase an array of vintage agricultural machinery at work, including water pumps and stationary engines that are over 100 years old. Ireland’s largest collection of vintage farm machinery, The Talbot Collection, will be on display throughout the 26-acre folk park and will feature more than 50 items of machinery, from ploughs to hay rakes and from traditional threshing machines to Turnip and Mangel Seed sowers.
See www.bunrattycastle.ie for more on the Imbolc Celebration at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, County Clare, to be held on February 2nd 2025, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. Standard entry prices will only apply.
An operation, by authorities in Co. Tipperary and Co. Clare, has been launched to halt the act of illegal hunting and killing of hares.
District Conversation Officers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, have stated that groups of men from urban areas are regularly observed entering unto farmers lands, without permission being granted, and using dogs, to hunt hares, thus causing great distress to these animals.
The actions by those involved in such trespassing, mainly for gambling purposes, very often result in the intimidation of landowners, by the individuals involved.
Gardaí and National Parks and Wildlife Services are now putting in place targeted checkpoints in areas where such hunting activity has increased; which will involve future prosecutions; the seizure of motor vehicles and the dogs involved.
Concerned persons and animal lovers are asked to keep an eye out for such individuals who usually arrive in one or more vehicles, with a number of greyhound/lurcher type dogs. Should they enter rural farm lands, then observers are asked to note registration numbers of vehicle and immediately phone/text their local Gardaí with known information.
Members of the general public and landowners are warned not to enter into verbal dispute with the individuals involved.
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